More than 1,600 bizarre, risky infractions spotted in Winnipeg school zones

WINNIPEG — 1,616 instances of risky driving were recorded at three Winnipeg school zones in less than two hours Wednesday morning.

CAA Manitoba and Winnipeg police staked out at the school zones during the morning rush from 7:30 to 9 a.m. to observe traffic and safety infractions as part of the fifth annual School Zone Safety Assessment. They found that Winnipeg drivers aren’t getting a passing grade while driving through school zones.

There were 173 instances of speeding and 587 instances of drivers failing to stop at a stop line or crosswalk including one driver going 55 km/h where a child was waiting to cross.

“We had an individual going 65 while changing lanes and failing to signal while changing lanes,” Mike Mager, President and CEO of CAA Manitoba said Wednesday morning. “This is what we want to see people stop doing and be more cautious and careful when they’re in a school zone.”

Some of the unusual infractions spotted include a mother feeding her baby a bottle in a rear facing car seat while driving, a driver driving in reverse down a street and a cyclist, without a helmet, spotted weaving down the road while reading a poster.

“Children are the most vulnerable. They’re in school, they’re just out having a good time and not really paying attention to the dangers around with traffic,” Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis said as an officer checked speeds behind him Wednesday morning. “I think it’s incumbent upon drivers, adults to be looking out for those young people.”

FULL LIST OF INFRACTIONS SPOTTED:

• Stopping in a no-stopping/parking zone: 68
• Speeding: 173
• Not obeying road signs: 28
• Motorists fails to stop at a crosswalk or stop sign: 587
• Distracted driving: 79
• Pedestrian infractions: 129
• Cyclist infractions: 130
• Changing lanes illegally and failing to signal: 185
• Improper drop-off in parking lot: 29
• Unsafe drop-off: 69